DV 
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Bnnk. P-'5 



A >RESS 



DELIVERED BEFO SlLUMNI OF TUT. 



JlJrotestcmt Episcopal t ogicai 0emmarg, 



NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VIRGIN! ' 10, 1851 



RT. RET. JOHN PAYNE, D 



MISSIONARY BISHOP AT CAPE PALMA3, 



AFRICA. 



W ASHING T O N : 

PRINTED BY JNO. T. TOWERS. 
1851. 




<2 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE ALUMNI OF THE 



PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 



Acts xiv, 26, 27. " And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been re> 
commended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 

" And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed 
all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the 
Gentiles." 

There exists very generally a sentiment opposed to the narra- 
tion of events by those who have been prominently connected 
with them. And considering the vanity of our nature, its prone- 
ness to egotism, such sentiment is but too well founded. But 
here, as in almost every other case, the motive and the circum- 
stances must determine the character of the action. Most cer- 
tainly it is clear from the Scriptures, that the glory of God, and 
the edification of His Church, have required and been promoted by 
just such personal narratives as are here referred to. Not to cite 
examples familiar to every reader of the Bible, the words just quo- 
ted from the 14th Chapter of Acts, present a case directly in point. 

Antioch, in Syria, twelve miles from the Mediterranean Sea, 
situated on both sides of the river Orontes, was, in Apostolic times, 
a most important place. It was the royal seat of the Kings of 
Syria, and, according to some authorities, long the most powerful 
city in the East. But what rendered it famous among the Jews 
and interesting to Christians at the time of which we are speak- 
ing, was its enjoyment of the rights of Roman citizenship, which 
had been granted to the Jews in common with the Greeks and 
Macedonians. As the Christians were considered at first a sect 
of the Jews, these privileges contributed to render this place pe- 
culiarly desirable to them, since here they could perform public 
worship in their own way, and enjoy all religious privileges with- 
out persecution or disturbance. This accounts for the zeal of the 
Apostles and others in introducing the Gospel into this city, and 
for the strength and maturity which the Church here so early at- 
tained. The disciples took the distinctive name of Christians first 
at Antioch. And undoubtedly here was the earliest, happiest 
home of primitive Christianity. 

Into this delightful place and society, Barnabas, who had per- 
formed for him the same kind office at Jerusalem, introduced the 
Apostle Paul. And here these two Apostles remained continu- 
ously a whole year, meeting with the Church, teaching much peo- 



NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, JULY 10, 1851, 



RT. REV. JOHN PAYNE, D. D., 



MISSIONARY BISHOP AT CAPE PALMAS, AFRICA, 



2 



pie ; and no doubt themselves deriving strength and comfort from 
the sympathy and the intercourse of Christian friends and brethren. 

At length, while thus occupied, and " as they ministered unto 
the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said: separate me Barnabas 
and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when 
they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they 
sent them away." So they being sent forth, departed on that most 
interesting and successful missionary tour, of which we have an 
account in Chapters 13, 14, of the Acts of the Apostles. Having 
in due time accomplished their work, they " returned to Antioch, 
from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for 
the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and 
had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all that God 
had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith 
unto the Gentiles." 

Now, brethren, without my claiming Apostolical character, or 
labors, or success, you will readily allow that there is an interest- 
ing parallel between the circumstances here adverted to at An- 
tioch, and those in which I meet you to-day. 

1. This Seminary is Antioch — it was my Antioch. Here, at a 
time when Christian counsel and Christian sympathy were espe- 
cially needed, I was introduced to one of the most delightful 
Christian societies, as I verily believe, on earth. 

2. It was here that I passed three years so pleasantly, so ra- 
pidly, that they scarcely seemed one " whole year." 

3. It was while fasting and praying in this school of God's pro- 
phets, with dear brethren, that I was, as I humbly trust, moved by 
the Holy Ghost to enter upon the work to which he had called me. 

4. From this place, after fasting and praying, and the laying on 
of hands, I was sent away on a distant mission. 

5. And here again, after the lapse of fifteen years, " through 
the good hand of my God upon me," I am permitted to meet you, 
to rehearse what God has done with me and my fellow laborers ; 
and how He hath opened the door of faith to the Gentiles of Africa. 

I. The introduction at Antioch. — In tracing the parallel thus 
existing, my brethren of the Alumni will allow me, I am sure, to 
indulge in some reminiscences connected with my introduction at 
Antioch. 

As has been stated, this took place at a period of my life, when 
Christian instruction and Christian society were peculiarly needed. 
Young in years and experience, only a few months before I had 
left Williamsburg. In that place, although by God's grace I had 
been enabled to make a public profession of religion, and I had 
left there the kindest people on earth, yet (whatever may be the 
case now) there were then but few encouragements to a Chris- 
tian life. 

When, therefore, in the Autumn of 1833, 1 entered the Semina- 
ry, it was with a mind and soul thirsting for nourishment and 
sympathy. And truly in this respect did God, then and here, sup- 
ply all my need. In clear-minded, devoted, and amiable Profes- 




■ 



3 

sors, and the many intelligent, experienced elder brethren in the 
Seminary at that time, I found able instructors, safe guides, and 
wise counsellors. Amongst the latter, my memory delights to re- 
call the images of the meek and pious Russell, the frank and 
manly Nelson, and others, whose presence forbids my character- 
izing them, but whose kindness and many virtues are engraven 
indellibly on my heart. Nor was it from elder brethren only that 
I received sympathy and good. In every new acquaintance I 
found a source of gratification — a fresh cause for thankfulness. 
In my Seminary course I became acquainted and was associated 
with.fi/ty candidates for the holy office ; and in no one case can 
I recall anything which for a moment interrupted the harmony 
and pleasure of our intercourse. In the subsequent history of all 
these brethren, in only two cases has there arisen, so far as I 
know, cause for pain. Eight of them have gone to their ever- 
lasting reward. The grave Delaplane, with the shadows of eter- 
nity early gathering on his brow; the humble but over-active 
Russell ; the straight-forward, devoted Nelson ; Smith, called late, 
but working hard in his Master's cause ; Northam, only permitted 
to enter upon the work of the ministry ; the lowly-minded Bryant ; 
the ardent, self-sacrificing Minor; and the anxious, soul-seeking 
Beall, " travailing in birth for his flock until Christ should be 
formed in them" — all these have been called from the Church 
militant to the Church triumphant. " Blessed are the dead who 
die in the Lord : even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their 
labors." " We give thee hearty thanks, oh Lord, for the good ex- 
amples of these thy servants, who, having finished their course in 
faith, do now rest from their labors ; and beseech thee to give us 
grace, so to follow their good examples, that with them we may 
be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom." Forty of my beloved 
associates at Antioch still survive to testify the Gospel of the grace 
of God in the wide world. And my spirit rejoices within me, as 
in imagination I follow them, dispersed not only over nearly all 
parts of our own great country, but amongst the millions of be- 
nighted heathen in Asia, and in Africa, sowing the precious seed 
of the divine word, breaking the bread of life, preaching the ever- 
lasting Gospel to them that dwell on the earth. 

" Go on ! ye heralds, in God's name ; 
Sweetly the Gospel trumpet sounds ; 
The glorious jubilee proclaim, 

Where'er the human race is found." 

II. The Residence at Antioch. — Three years were spent at 
Antioch: and how pleasantly, how profitably, I need not stt;p to 
relate to those who have been similarly situated. How, indeed, 
could time be passed here, otherwise than pleasantly. In the 
constant study of God's word, blessed with able, pious instructors, 
with brethren like-minded, delighting to co-operate in labors of 
love, and joining with them daily in social worship, here was, as 
I thought then, and think now, 

" Heaven on earth begun." 



4 



How often did we sing, and feel through all our souls, as we 
sang — 

" Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love. 
The fellowship of kindred minds 
Is like to that above." 

But if these years were not too long for enjoyment, neither 
were they for profit. This I felt at the time, and have felt more 
and more since, with advancing years and experience. And I 
doubt not that I speak the sentiments of all faithful Ministers, 
that they estimate more and more highly the importance and ne- 
cessity of making careful, deliberate, and solemn preparation for 
the sacred office. Oh, brethren, awful is the responsibility of 
being ambassadors for Christ, messengers of the Most High, shep- 
herds, watchmen, guides, instructors, and ensamples to Christ's 
flock, scattered abroad in this naughty world, Three fall years 
at Antioch are ordinarily short enough time to prepare for so 
weighty a charge. 

III. Preparation for leaving Antioch. — The time of prepara- 
tion, however, at length drew to a close, and the question natu- 
rally arose, where in the one great field, my services could, pro- 
bably, be most usefully employed. 

Brethren, was mine an unusual case, when in first looking to 
the Ministry, I thought, to be useful indeed, but at the same time, 
so to be useful, as in a worldy point of view, to be comfortable ? 
Thank God, before the time arrived for action, far different views 
possessed my mind. I had learned to receive in their full import, 
the Savior's words, "the field is the world." As not my own, but 
bought with the price of Christ's own blood, I felt it to be my 
duty, without consulting flesh and blood, to glorify Him in my 
body and spirit wherever on earth He might seem to call me. Since 
in the world, " no man that warreth entangleth himself with the 
affairs of this life that he may please him who hath called him to 
be a soldier," but holds himself in readiness to go to any place 
which may be designated, I felt it would be a burning shame 
if, from any personal considerations, I should hesitate to obey the 
call of my Divine Lord, whithersoever he might lead me. The 
single question with me to decide was, what will He have me do ? 
Where can I hope most to glorify Him ? 

Now, in deciding this question, I felt no miraculous impulse. 
I expected none. Endowed by God with reasoning faculties, it 
was not only my duty to use them, but it was glorifying Him to 
do so. And although I was authorized to expect, and did confi- 
dently expect divine direction, yet did I feel bound as faithfully 
to employ my natural powers, as if no such assistance were 
promised. With the Savior's command, " go preach the Gospel 
to every creature," before me, — beholding on the map of the world 
one portion supplied with thousands of doctors, and evangelists 
and teachers, and all the appliances of the most enlightened 
Christian civilization, and the other, (by far the largest portion,) 



5 



literally destitute ; and having in view, with reference to the lat- 
ter, the Apostles' significant question, " How can they call on Him, 
of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a 
preacher?" implying most plainly that they will not call upon 
Him, and therefore will not be saved without the preached Gos- 
pel, — with these simple declarations of God's word before me, 
upon the easiest and most obvious principles of reason, I came to 
the conclusion that my Master's call directed me (there being no 
providential hindrances to my knowledge) to the heathen rather 
than to the Christian world, as the sphere of my labors. 

But to what portion of the heathen world, all alike perishing 
for the bread of life, was I to attempt to break it ? Here again 
in the diligent use of my reason I felt it to be my duty to be 
guided by providential indications. " Paul would go into Asia, 
and then into Bythinia, both of which, no doubt, needed very 
much his labors, but the "Spirit suffered him not" Had the Apos- 
tle, under the influence of mere human zeal, gone to either of 
those countries, his life might have been the sacrifice, or his ef- 
forts in vain. But when the divine call directed him to Macedo- 
nia, the richest blessings followed his labors." / could expect no 
voice from Heaven, or vision, or miraculous spiritual guidance. 
But since God in His word, had commanded the Gospel to be 
preached to every creature, I had reason to expect that, by His 
providence he would open the way, so as to make obedience to 
that command practicable. 

When the question of duty was at first decided in favor of the 
heathen world, Providence appeared to direct me to China, and 
by God's grace I was enabled fully to resolve, if needful, to lay 
down my life for the Chinese. But on being informed by the 
then Secretary, the venerable Dr. Milnor, that it was not deemed 
expedient to send out more missionaries to China at that time, 
but that the Foreign Committee were very desirous of attempt- 
ing a mission in Africa, I determined at once to consider the path 
of duty in reference to that country. This fact is mentioned 
merely to show how little impulse had to do with deciding my 
destination. 

IV. The Path of Duty Decided : Departure from Antioch. — 
Brethren, the aspect of African missions was gloomy indeed, at 
the time under review, compared with what it now is. Every 
white missionary, without exception, so far as known, who had 
gone out from the United States, and remained for any length of 
time on the west coast of Africa, had either fallen a sacrifice to 
the climate, or else, returned with ruined health. While, at 
Sierra Leone, the mortality of missionaries had been most fear- 
ful. When there were so many promising fields of usefulness in 
my own and other heathen lands, was it my duty to sacrifice my 
life, without the prospect of doing any good 1 1 certainly did not 
think that I should be justifiable in throwing away talents which 
God had given me for His glory in a heathen, any more than in a 
Christian land. But would this be the certain consequence of my 



6 



going to Africa? Might not much, — most of the mortality which 
had occurred, be attributed to inexperience in treating the accli- 
mating fever, the unhealthiness of the places occupied, or to pe- 
culiarities of character or conduct in those who had been sent out ? 
A new colony had been lately planted at Cape Palmas, which 
was said to be more healthy than any other on the west coast. 
After all, then, might not a prudent, healthy white man go to this 
new settlement, with a reasonable hope of living and being use- 
ful ? After examining all the sources of information within my 
reach, I deliberately decided this question in the affirmative. 
Apart from considerations already adverted to, there was one 
other which had much to do with determining my coarse. It was 
this : For centuries God had permitted white men to live on all 
parts of the west coast of Africa, whose only business it was to 
enslave and destroy the souls and bodies of its miserable inhabi- 
tants. Would He not preserve those whose object was to save 
them, even with the salvation of the Gospel ? To doubt this for 
a moment, appeared at once absurd and impious. I could not do 
it. I determined to trust God. I departed from Antioch for the 
work to which I believed God's word and providence and spirit 
called me. And what has been the result ? , Here, brethren, I 
stand before you, fourteen years after having first put my foot on 
African soil, and having spent nearly the whole of this time in 
that country. I have, by God's help, in short journeys, travelled 
on missionary duty more than eight thousand miles, preached in 
Grebo and English at least four thousand times, in from thirty to 
forty different towns and places to four distinct heathen tribes, 
and in the colonies. In doing all which I cannot remember hav- 
ing been interrupted by ill health on one Sabbath ; certainly not 
one in the last ten years. Now, here, to the praise of God's grace 
be it said, are great facts, to establish which, my life had been 
well spent in Africa, and to report which, to you, brethren here at 
this our Antioch, would well repay the trouble of my four voy- 
ages across the Atlantic. 

V. The opening of the Door of Faith to the Gentiles. — But 
I fear, not even the detail of such facts, nor other interesting sub- 
jects passed under review, will sufficiently excuse my detaining you 
so long in this part of my narrative. You will please, therefore, now 
accompany me when, after I reached Africa, God so remarkably 
opened the door of faith to the Gentiles of that country, before me 
and my fellow laborers. 

Our operations were formally commenced on Christmas day, 
1836, at Mt. Vaughan, near Cape Palmas, in the Colony of "Mary- 
land in Liberia." 

It will scarcely be doubted by any well informed mind, that 
colonization and the colonies on the coast of Africa have promo- 
ted, and do promote in many ways, the cause of African missions. 
But it will be readily perceived by those who reflect on the sub- 
ject, that the prosecution of missions in the colonies by white men, 
must be a matter of peculiar delicacy and difficulty. 



7 



Without questioning (what indeed is unquestionable) the be- 
nevolence of many of the founders and present patrons of coloni- 
zation, it is of course well understood by the colonists that they 
are in Africa because they cannot enjoy equal rights and privileges 
in the United States. In sach a case, what more natural, what 
more unavoidable, than that there should exist a suspicion and 
jealousy of the white man's influence in the land of their adop- 
tion ? Under such circumstances, though every missionary sent 
out to the colonies had possessed the wisdom of the serpent and 
the harmlessness of the dove, their position would have been suf- 
ficiently difficult. But this was not to be expected, especially in 
such young Apostles as must for very shame go forth to plant the 
Gospel in these latter days. And hence it is not to be wondered 
at that the real or alleged indiscretion of individual missionaries, 
in connection with the cause before referred to, should have oc- 
casioned serious embarrassment. Indeed it is not too much to 
say that at one time the public feeling at Cape Palmas amongst 
the colonists was decidedly opposed to t-he presence of the foreign 
missionaries. Such I learned to be the state of things in the be- 
ginning of 1842, when, after a short visit to this country, I again 
turned my face towards Africa. 

I esteemed it a special mercy to have been absent from the 
scene of late excitement, and to have taken no part in the 
occurrences which produced it ; and inasmuch as my intercourse 
with the colonists had always been of the most friendly charac- 
ter, I was not without hope of still doing them good. As with a 
sorrowful heart I passed the capes of Delaware, I offered up and 
recorded this earnest prayer to God. " that in my missionary ef- 
forts I might act as if no difficulties had ever occurred, but in the 
spirit of my Divine Master, do good as I had opportunity to all men, 
and especially unto them that were of the household of faith." 

Brethren, great is the power of the simple soul-seeking love of 
the Gospel. It has reconciled millions of the most obdurate sin- 
ners to God, and it can reconcile, aye, and unite together those 
whom circumstances had done their utmost to alienate and to 
separate. 

Subsequently to the period just referred to, it pleased God to 
vouchsafe to his servants of the mission at Cape Palmas an un- 
usual degree of this heaven-born principle. Without in the least 
relaxing their efforts for enlightening and converting the heathen, 
they yet promoted with emphatic earnestness the welfare of the 
colonists. By sympathy in, and the relief of affliction, by origi- 
nating or promoting measures for their temporal amelioration, by 
preaching the Gospel from house to house, as well as in public 
assemblies, the missionaries made it manifest beyond the power 
of gainsaying, to their colonist brethren, that they sought not 
theirs but them. A reaction was soon apparent. The good feel- 
ing manifested on the one side began to be returned on the other. 
The missionaries, in their visits through the colony, were every 
where received with kindness and hospitality. Their services 
were well attended at two different places. Within three years 



the number of communicants quadrupled. Two Sunday schools 
were organized, numbering over one hundred attendants. Be- 
sides the chapel at Mt. Vaughan, built chiefly by one individual, 
the governor of the colony, within the last year a neat and sub- 
stantial stone church has been erected at Cape Palmas, which 
will soon be ready for use. A female day school, containing up- 
wards of fifty children, is and has been for some years, in opera- 
tion. And what is of more consequence — indeed I think of the 
very greatest importance— there is at the same place a high 
school for training colonist teachers and ministers. 

As proof of the change of feeling produced by these causes in 
the colonists towards the missionaries, I would only state, that at 
the first anniversary of the "Society for Mutual Relief," formed 
about two years ago, and composed of all classes and denomina- 
tions, your speaker was requested to preach the sermon ; and 
further, that he received the congratulations of the governor and 
others, on the event which has led to the present visit to his 
native land. Indeed, if there remain unfriendly feeling in the 
breast of any individual towards the mission or the missionaries, 
it lies veiled under the appearance of kindness and good will. 

The colony now gives promise of what Providence would seem 
to have designed it should be — what certainly I have always felt 
most anxious to see it — namely, a home for Christianity in Africa, 
the cradle of missions to the teeming heathen population around 
it. Now, " thanks be unto God," who hath thus " caused us to 
triumph in Christ," and enabled us, in this respect, to accomplish 
the desire of our hearts. 

But all our efforts in the colonies, are, as already intimated, 
only preparatory to the greater work we have in hand, namely, 
the diffusion of the light of the Gospel amongst the numerous na- 
tive tribes which on every side encompass it. To this your at- 
tention will now be directed. 

It is common in Christian lands, (and missionaries have some- 
times used similar language,) to represent the heathen as seeking 
after the Gospel, calling for its ministers to come amongst them, 
for the sake of the Gospel. Nothing, however, could be more in- 
consistent with revelation, reason, and facts in the case. The 
blessed Savior said, " this is the condemnation that light is come 
into the world, and men love darkness rather than light because 
their deeds are evil." Now the deeds of the heathen are only evil. 
They are addicted to every vice, and precisely in proportion as 
this is the case, do they love darkness and hate the light by which 
their deeds would be reproved. The heathen love the Gospel ! No, 
the blind eyes must be opened from above, before there can be any 
perception of that which is spiritually good ; the dead in trespasses 
and sins must be quickened before there can be any life, and love 
towards Christ and his Gospel. The Macedonian cry, which seems 
to have given rise to the idea of the heathen desiring the Gospel, 
it should be remembered, was only a vision, while the Apostle's 
language already quoted, " how can they call on him of whom 
they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher?" 



clearty teaches that the Gospel must be preached to the heathen 
before any will call upon the name of the Lord. 

And yet the heathen Africans do welcome the missionary, and 
are pleased to have him reside amongst them. But why ? Not 
in the character of a Christian teacher, but as a civilized foreigner. 
So entirely has Satan denuded his votaries, and so many worldly 
blessings does God grant to the nations and individuals that ac- 
knowledge and serve Him, that the civilized man who has around 
him the merest necessaries — not to say comforts — appears rich in 
the eyes of his heathen neighbor. And the contrast becomes still 
greater, when, as in cases like ours, boarding schools are main- 
tained, and consequently a considerable disbursement of money 
becomes necessary. It is this which at first makes the heathen 
desire and welcome the missionary. But what then? Some fol- 
lowed Christ because they did " eat of the loaves and were filled." 
Still he did not despise or repel them on this account. On the 
contrary, he gladly availed himself of the occasion to direct their 
attention to the " true bread which came down from Heaven, and 
giveth life to the world." In the case of the heathen Africans, the 
worldly superiority of the missionaries, as of civilized foreigners 
in general, is in the place of miracles, proving to them, beyond all 
question, that God is with those on whom He showers so many 
blessings. Again and again have I heard reiterated " Kobo oh ma 
nyesoa-ah iru," (foreigners are the children of God.) 

But this comparative superiority and wealth of the missionaries, 
if it have its advantages, has also disadvantages ; and, indeed, has 
been the source of much annoyance, and sometimes even of peril. 
Where there is so much possessed on the one side, and so little on 
the other, it is but proper, the heathen conclude, on their part, to 
obtain as much as possible, and by any means. Hence arise at 
first, endless exactions, extortions, and, so far as practicable, rob- 
beries. The price of labor, of articles of food, &c, though ever so 
long established, become the subjects of constant dispute ; and 
presents, such as they have been accustomed to receive from tra- 
ders, are solicited on all occasions, as long as the means, or pa- 
tience, or discretion of the missionary will allow him to give them. 
But of course there must be a limit. And when this is reached 
the worst feelings are often aroused. A systematic plan of an- 
noyance is entered upon. The friendly greeting is no longer given, 
expressions of benevolence are met by angry glances, friendly 
visits cease, threats of extreme measures are thrown out and cir- 
culated — presently to be put into execution. No one will labor 
for the missionary ; he can buy no food ; children are stealthily 
withdrawn from school by their parents ; those who will remain 
are threatened and abused wherever met. Such was the kind of 
treatment to which we were subjected more or less during the 
first five years of our connection with the African mission. In 
the year 1843 matters hastened to a crisis. 

Brethren, there are striking analogies in the kingdoms of nature 
and of grace. The earth has long been agitated, causing forests 
to nod, houses and cities to tremble and totter, and sending undu- 



10 



lations along its solid crust, as waves of the sea, driven by the 
winds. At length, tremblingly, aonvulsively, amidst smoke and 
vapor and darkness, as if all creation were in travail, a mountain 
is driven up towards Heaven. Anon, its summit is rent asunder ; 
sulphurous clouds black as midnight issue forth, followed by burn- 
ing stones and lurid flames, and streams of lava pouring down its 
sides, overwhelming districts and villages and cities in ruin. But 
a crisis has passed. The earth is at last and forever quiet for 
hundreds of miles around, and millions of its inhabitants now re- 
pose in tranquility and joy upon its surface. 

The atmosphere has become heated. It grows sultry, oppres- 
sive, almost intolerable. Man and beasts, and birds, gasp for 
breath. Hark ! in the distance a rumbling noise is heard, low at 
first, but soon waxing louder and louder. Dark clouds rise up on 
the horizon, and streaks of forked lightning dart across them in 
quick succession. They approach rapidly ; the clouds growing 
blacker and blacker ; the lightning flashing more vividly, followed 
by louder and more terrible peals of thunder, like a mighty army 
with its thousand batteries charged with carnage and death. 
The tornado comes. It rages in fury, prostrating trees, houses, 
and destroying multitudes of human beings. But the hand of 
infinite wisdom and benevolence, has been in the whirlwind and 
directed the storm. Those who have been suddenly called away, 
had lived out their appointed time of probation. Over the earth, 
what a change has come ! A plentiful rain has watered it ; the 
atmosphere has become pleasant and purified, and the sun throws 
a radiant smile over the whole face of renovated creation. 

Thus it is in the Kingdom of God's grace. In the effort which 
Christ's servants are making in his name to purify this corrupt 
world by the preaching of the Gospel, there must he conflict. And 
the more in proportion to the degree of antagonism between this 
Gospel and the moral condition which it proposes to modify and 
change. But the issue here can be matter of no doubt to the well 
instructed Christian. Christ, we know, is "head over all things to 
His church." All conflicts then must tend ultimately to "the 
furtherance of the Gospel." This was strikingly true of those dif- 
ficulties in our mission at Cape Palmas, to which I have been re- 
ferring. Many things had occurred calculated to charge the 
atmosphere of our little world with the elements of an explosion. 

About two years before, at no great distance below Cape Pal- 
mas, the crew of an American vessel had been murdered, and, as 
the natives supposed, no notice had been taken of it. An Ame- 
rican man-of-war had been down in the neighborhood, but re- 
turned to the windward without visiting the place of the massa- 
cre, thus confirming the impressions of the natives. In addition 
to those causes already mentioned, as producing an unpleasant 
state of feeling towards the missionaries in the minds of the na- 
tives, between these and tne colonists bickerings and petty diffi- 
culties had long been doing their evil work. The Grebo tribe, 
lying immediately around the colony, excited by these things, and 
encouraged by the prevailing state of feeling, called a general 



11 



council, and determined to make trial of strength with the colony. 
It was even proposed to precipitate hostilities by murdering a 
Methodist colonial missionary teacher, located at a short distance 
in the interior. Instead of this, however, it was determined to 
raise the price of all articles of trade, and to separate entirely all 
natives from foreigners of every description, so that there should 
be no intercourse between them. In accordance with this resolu- 
tion, soon after the delegates from Cavallo returned home, a tu- 
multuous mob entered the mission premises and houses, driving 
off every native, male and female, from the grounds. Even 
strangers from other tribes, in the schools, or in the employment of 
the mission, were forced to leave and to go to their respective homes, 
and all intercourse with the missionaries was strictly forbidden. 

We had an interview with the people, in which we endeavored 
to show them the folly of their course, but all reason and remon- 
strance were lost. Nothing seemed left to us but to wait upon God. 

Brethren, how passing wonderful are the ways of Providence ! 
On the very day after the natives had proceeded to the extremities 
just referred to, Rev. Mr. Smith, lately associated with me, had 
gone to Cape Palmas, and I, with my companion in tribulation, 
was sitting on our little piazza gazing on the great ocean spread 
out before us. As we looked upon its gently upheaving waves 
in the light of a full-orbed moon, we seemed to feel that our 
Heavenly Father still smiled upon us, and that His almighty 
power was nigh to defend us. Suddenly a large vessel appeared 
to the windward. We could see her distinctly in the clear moon- 
light approaching nearer and nearer, and presently she dropped 
anchor immediately off our solitary abode. What could this 
mean ? We retired to rest greatly wondering. 

Scarcely were we composed for sleep when a loud rap at our 
chamber door aroused us. How strange ! A letter was handed 
me by a Crooman who had been most active in the late violent 
measures against us. What is the matter ? "I have brought 
you a letter, sir, from the commander of an American man-of- 
war off this place. He wishes an immediate answer." It proved 
to be a letter from Captain Abbot, of the ship Decatur, a member 
of our church, written in the kindest language. This vessel was 
one of the U. S. squadron under Commodore Perry, now arrived at 
Cape Palmas. The Commodore, on receiving information of our 
situation, from the Rev. Mr. Hazlehurst, (who had most promptly, 
and at some personal risk gone on board the flag ship,) made 
signals to the Decatur, not yet anchored, to keep on down to Ca- 
valla, and to render us any service required. The next morning 
Captain A. came on shore, and had a parley with the headmen. 
But inasmuch as they refused to recede from the ground which 
had been taken, until they had consulted with other portions of 
the Grebo Confederacy, I requested Captain A. to take us to Cape 
Palmas on board his ship. 

Three months passed away. The squadron had gone down the 
coast and punished the murderers of the crew of the Mary Car- 
ver. The Grebo towns most deeply implicated, had begged par- 



12 



don, and paid the Governor of the colony for their late outrage. 
The missionary at Cavalla, after receiving a pledge of future 
good behavior from the people, and being solicited by three dele- 
gations to do so, returned to his station. The storm had passed. 
A calm succeeded. 

It is now nearly eight 3<ears since this took place. And will 
you believe, that at the same place and amongst the same people 
where there had been previously constant annoyances and diffi- 
culties, there has been since nought but kindness and tranquility ! 
Nothing whatever has occurred to interrupt the friendly inter- 
course between the missionary and the people, or his daily rou- 
tine of labors for their good. 

But although the way was thus prepared for the free course of 
the Gospel at Cavalla, this was not the general effect of the late 
agitations in the Grebo tribe. This tribe, in which our missionary 
operations have been chiefly carried on, is divided into two par- 
ties, between which there had been long jealousies, quarrels, and 
wars. For a specific object they had lately entered into a sort of 
league, but the defeat of that object separated them more widely 
than before. And between no divisions of these parties did this 
unhappy state of things exist to so great an extent, as between the 
Cavalla people and their neighbors on either side. The bitterness 
of feeling was the more intense from the fact that there had been 
no actual hostilities for some fifty or sixty years. And as it is a 
principle of the heathen to avenge every injury received, the af- 
fronts of years and generations were now rankling in bosoms 
burning for revenge. So deep were these feelings, that not only 
was there little intercourse between the parties themselves, but 
the influence of the missionary at Cavalla was much impaired at 
the neighboring towns by the mere circumstance of his residing 
with their enemies. 

At length, in 1845, war broke out; the towns on either side 
combining against Cavalla. The usual calamities ensued. The 
burning of villages, the slaughter of men, women and children, 
and black, consuming famine. It was the most disastrous war 
in which the parties were ever engaged. Twice the mission sta- 
tion at Cavalla was in imminent danger, the enemy having made 
a joint attack on both sides. But God defended it and the Cavalla 
people. After three years, both parties were at length heartily 
tired of war. Peace, such peace as the parties had never known, 
succeeded. The late enemies now vied, and have continued since 
to vie, with each other in expressions of kindness. And what was 
still more important, the missionary who had continued during 
the war to preach the Gospel to both parties, not only felt his in- 
fluence greatly strengthened at his own station, but was received 
with greater civility than ever before at other places. And this 
improved state of feeling still continues. Thus the moral atmos- 
phere was still further purified— the door of faith to the Gentiles 
still more widely opened. 

Between the people on the coast of Africa and those in the in- 
terior, there exists, and ever have existed, the most jealous feelings. 



13 



Selfishness is the cause of this. The coast natives have ever been 
in the habit of demanding of those in the interior, a great advance 
on all articles purchased of foreigners ; and to prevent the tribes 
of the interior from becoming acquainted with the extent of their 
gains, they have always opposed to the utmost, the intercourse of 
foreigners with them. Hence the difficulty experienced uniformly 
by travellers attempting to penetrate the interior. Dr. Hail, first 
Governor of the colony at Cape Palmas, had the greatest obsta- 
cles to encounter in ascending the Cavalla river. Rev. Dr. Sav- 
age and Rev. Mr. Minor, in an attempt to do the same, had all 
their baggage taken from them, and were compelled to return. 
Gov. Russwurm, of Cape Palmas, afterwards received similar 
treatment. 

Observation soon confirmed my early impressions that the diffi- 
culties thus encountered, so far as missionaries were concerned, 
had their origin in one cause, namety, misapprehension of the mis- 
sionary character ; a,nd this being the case, it could and would be 
removed. Accordingly it became a prominent object from the 
very first, fully to make known the Gospel at one point on the coast; 
and then so far as possible to natives coming from the interior. 
Meantime, nothing was said about it, and no attempt was made 
to go into the country. The anticipations formed, as to the effects 
of this course were soon realized. With correct views of the 
character and the objects of the missionaries, the objections to their 
itinerating gradually disappeared, in so much that at the present 
moment, at Cavalla, there is not the slightest obstacle to the Gos- 
pel being carried to twelve or more tribes situated on and near 
the Cavalla river. Musu, our native catechist, has made an ex- 
tensive tour amongst these tribes. He was generally received 
with kindness, and found the people willing to listen to his mes- 
sage. Indeed, nothing but the want of laborers prevents the im- 
mediate proclamation of the Gospel in those benighted, populous 
regions. Thus completely has the door of faith been opened to 
people, until recently scarcely less inaccessible than were formerly 
those of the Celestial empire itself. 

I have said little, brethren, of the positive spiritual results of 
our mission, because, although there are the most unequivocal 
proofs of the opening of the door of faith to the GenHles of Africa, 
you have been kept informed in regard to these, through annual 
reports from the stations, and the statements of returned mis- 
sionaries. It may, nevertheless, be interesting for me briefly to 
refer to these. 

One hundred persons, colonists and natives, have been received 
into the church. Some of these have died ; others have aposta- 
tised ; but most still live, and hold on to their profession. More 
than a thousand youth, colonists and natives, have, to a greater 
or less extent, been instructed in the saving truths of Christianity 
in our schools. One station has been established in the Colony 
of Maryland in Liberia, and three amongst the natives. In con- 
nection with the latter, some thirty thousand heathen have had 
the glorious Gospel of the blessed God proclaimed to them. To 



14 



which should be added the acquisition of a native dialect, and the 
publication therein of sundry small books and portions of the 
Scriptures. 

Conclusion. — And now, brethren, that after the lapse of fifteen 
years, I have returned to this our Antioch, whence I was recom- 
mended to the grace of God for the work in which I have been 
engaged, and am permitted to report to you, how through many 
dangers and temptations which have come upon me, the door of 
faith hath been so remarkably and widely opened to the Gentile 
Africans, I call upon you with me to return thanks for, and to 
magnify, the providence and mercy and grace of God, which have 
so signally followed your brother and his associates in the mission 
which they have been the honored instruments of planting and 
sustaining. Yes, with one heart and voice let us say, " Now 
thanks be unto God who alwaj^s causeth us to triumph in Christ, 
and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every 
place." 

But, brethren, I would have you do more, since God hath dealt 
so graciously towards us and you, let me earnestty exhort you in 
the words of the great missionar}-, St. Paul, " Now for a recom- 
pense of the same, be ye also enlarged." 

Be enlarged in your faith. The African mission was com- 
menced, so far as the most of you were concerned, doubtingly, 
tremblingly, despondingly. After what God hath wrought for us, 
should doubt, or fear, or despondency again find place in j'our 
minds or hearts? Rather should you not be "strong in faith, 
giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that what He hath pro- 
mised, He will perform," even for Africa. 

Be enlarged in prayer and intercourse. Already, brethren, I 
am convinced it has been your practice to pray for Africa. On 
one occasion, when God's presence seemed especially vouchsafed 
to us, and a number of the scholars at Mt. Vaughan were added 
to the church, it was afterwards ascertained to have been a sea- 
son of pra} T er in behalf of the African mission at this school of 
God's prophets. And we have often felt that the favor granted 
to us was received in answer to prayer offered up in this country. 
Particularly was this the case, when for some time your speaker 
was left the only missionary to sustain a work which appeared 
then more than ever to require the presence of many. At that 
time, brethren, more than ever was experienced the faithfulness 
of the promise, " as thy days so shall thy strength be." In the 
health and strength enjoyed, in the opportunities of usefulness af- 
forded, and in the blessing granted to imperfect services, it did 
appear that there must be many laboring with us in prayer to 
God. But we would have still more of this fruit wnich shall 
abound so much to your account. The circumstances of the 
mission seem more than ever to require it. The Gospel now finds 
ready access to heathen minds ; but does it not depend upon prayer 
whether that Gospel shall be the savor of life unto life, or of death 
unto death ? If heretofore we have needed prayer for sustaining 



15 



grace, do we not now much more need it in its converting power ? 
Again, in view of the opened door of faith to the Gentile Africans, 
how important is prayer, that God may send forth laborers, many 
more laborers into His harvest. In view of the small band now in 
the field, how evident is it that we need very many more, even if 
we would appear to be in earnest in Africa's conversion. And 
well does the Bishop of Bombay, in a late address before the 
Church Missionary Society, say "the LORD must send out labor 
ers." He " sends out men animated by his spirit, in whose hearts 
the love of Christ is warm — men who value their own souls, and 
will feel the value of the souls of others — men who are ever ready 
to spend and be spent for the Gospel. I feel it important to im- 
press this upon you, because it would be easy to train up mis- 
sionaries in our seminaries, as we drill soldiers; but without the 
spirit they are useless, and are a dead weight upon us. There 
fore I feel it necessary to draw your attention to the great Head of 
the Church, and to exhort you to pray that He may send forth la- 
borers into His vineyard." 

But above all, brethren, be enlarged in your personal efforts for the re- 
generation of Africa. To all human appearances the Gospel has been 
planted there. In connection with our mission, Christianity seems to have 
found one home, shall I say another Antioch f I would leave to my asso- 
ciates in the mission the pleasing task of describing particularly their re- 
spective stations. But I shall be excused, I am sure, for making some re- 
ference to my own, endeared as it is by the hallowed associations of some 
ten years of missionary toil and enjoyment. And, brethren, of it I cannot 
say less than this : much as I loved this our Antioch, I have found more 
than another Antioch in my African Cavalla home. Nay, brethren, there 
is ndw, in this wide world, no place to me like that, my home. Thirty 
cocoanut trees spread forth their graceful branches to shelter it from the 
beams of a tropical sun ; a garden with lovely flowers, such as God delights 
to scatter over His fair creation, and numerous fruit trees, with beauteous 
birds "singing among the branches ;" refreshing breezes coming almost the 
whole day over the deep broad sea, not three hundred yards distant; a 
climate as pleasant (the mere temperature considered) as any on earth; a 
Christian congregation formed out of heathenism, and a substantial church 
building commenced ; schools, containing seventy pupils, in successful ope- 
ration ; and cheerful hearts and. willing hands to work in the Lord's har- 
vest. These are some of the attractions of our African Antioch. 

But, brethren, these are not the chief attractions for me or for you. What 
makes Cavalla a most interesting missionary station, is that there the door 
of faith is most widely and effectually opened to numerous towns and tribes 
of African Gentiles. But I would' fix your attention upon the fact that it is 
only the door, and this door is only opened ; opened, indeed, effectually, 
but still only opened. The field, and oh, what a field — how extensive, how 
dark, how ruined, is yet to be occupied. And upon what principle do we 
linger at the door, and that an open door f How can we withhold from the 
hundreds of towns around, that bread of life which we are breaking to the 
few at Cavalla? Can we be satisfied to save one and leave thousands to 
perish in our very sight ? Oh ! here is the argument to enforce, " be ye also 
enlarged." And I would call upon all, not providentially withheld, to con- 
sider the question of giving their personal services to evangelize Africa. 



18 



Brethren of the Alumni, I make my appeal to you. I have been urging 
theological students, and those just entering the ministry, to consider this 
question. But I think the appeal comes with peculiar force to you. 
Why ? Because your ministerial knowledge and experience better fit you 
for the missionary work than younger men. This view is sustained by 
reason and by scripture. Is an enemy to be conquered ? Who thinks of 
sending out raw recruits, or the feeblest instruments to attack his strong- 
holds ? Is there a desperate case of sickness ? At once the most skilful 
physician is called. Heathenism is Satan's strongest hold — man in his 
sickest, lowest, most desperate case. Is it reason, then, to expect that 
youth and in experience can meet it? 

It is a common and plausible idea that the highest qualifications should 
be monopolized by nominally Christian lands, and the more intelligent in 
these lands. But has this idea any foundation in Scripture ? Did not 
Jesus, the fountain of all wisdom, become " the companion of publicans and 
sinners," instruct the obscure woman of Samana, rejoice in spirit, that the 
Gospel, while hid from the wise and prudent, was revealed to hates, and an- 
nounce as the distinguishing feature of the Gospel, that it was preached to the 
poor? What was the course of the inspired, the most able of all" ministers, 
the Apostle Paul ? According to modern notions be could never have left 
Palestine, or if he had, no less a place than Athens or Rome would be 
worthy of so distinguished a man. But how differently were the divinely 
inspired ApostWs views. u I am a debtor both to the Greeks and barba- 
rians, both to the wise and the unwise." He expressed a willingness 
rather than desire to preach the Gospel at Rome. And we find he after- 
wards had an opportunity of doing so ; but his converts were chiefly from 
Caesar's household. Brethren, we have long heard our church called 
Apostolical. May the Lord, in mercy, give us grace, in these last days, in 
this most important respect, to walk in the steps of the Apostles. 

Brethren of the Alumni, as has been said, / ask your personal services 
in the African mission. And I do this in the full knowledge of the fact 
that you have parochial charges. Is there any thing improper or unreason- 
able in this ? None of you would consider it improper or unreasonable to 
be cal ed from your present, to other parishes in this country. Nor would 
you consider it improper to accept such call, provided the sphere of use- 
fulness would be thereby enlarged. But the Scriptures make no distinc- 
tion between domestic and foreign missions. And a real call to the minis- 
try is a call to exercise that ministry wherever in the great field, " the 
world," the servant may be most useful. And with every minister who 
has the spirit of his calling, this is the only question, " Where can I be 
most useful ?" And if this be the only question, and the question ought 
to be decided, as it generally is done in this country, by a reference to the 
number of minds to be reached, the sphere of labor in view, then, brethren, 
it does seem to my soberest reason, that in extending to you a call to go 
over with me to Africa, to break the bread of life to the thousands who are 
perishing for lack of it, I present a claim, in comparison with which an 
invitation to be sole Rector of the associated Churches of Trinity, in New 
York, would be "lighter than vanity. Thank God, brethren, here in our 
own Diocese, we have the examples of two ministers, who, taking some 
such view as this of the subject, have been led to resign their parishes, to 
meet the paramount claims of the heathen. May the Master, whose pre- 
rogative it is to call effectually and send forth laborers into His vineyard, 
speak effectually in many of your hearts, causing you to go and do likewise I 



